First International Trip
 

Mrs. nunya and I are taking are first international trip to Scotland in a few weeks.

We're flying British Air - MCO-LGW-EDI -roundtrip.Is there anything I need to know about going thru Security at LGW and EDI.How different is it compared to the tsa stuff.
Ive read some of the horror stories about MCO,but was wondering has it improved any.
Is it true that you have to go thru the sterile area to actually leave the airport at MCO?I heard or read it somewhere and just want clarification since I plan on bringing a nice bottle of whisky home I dont want any issues getting it thru.

Thanks for any advice.

117 views
 

117 views anyone have any info

Thanks

since you're getting no love, i'll tell you what i know :)

i've only been through LHR, and i find the security hassles similar to here (especially the grief you get at MCO). the big difference is that you do not have to remove your shoes when going through security. but since you're only changing planes at LGW, you won't have to deal with their hassles.

sorry, but i have no knowledge of EDI...

Sorry! My usual gateway is AMS so I don’t have any first-person info, but I’ll give this one a bump for you.

It's basically like here... you'll be told what to do. If you do it, you get through without much hassle or problem. Whether you choose to do what you're told or not is up to you and how much you'd like to push for your rights as a human being. :)

It's been 5 years or so since I've been through EDI, but I don't remember anything horrific, so it should be pretty standard.

You may have to collect your luggage in LGW and proceed through customs and then redeposit your luggage on a belt to be forwarded on to your connecting flight. Again, you'll be told exactly what to do. Just follow the crowd and ask someone official looking if you have any questions.

As far as the whisky goes, do you mean for customs purposes? You'll be given a customs form on the plane by a flight attendant. You only need to fill out one per family. Just list your purchases, make sure you list the alcohol by measure (litre, etc) and hand over the form when you pass through immigration/customs. They'll let you know if you owe any tax (which you probably won't).

Thank you

As far as I know, you will need to have the whisky in your checked luggage for the return flight, not as carry on. It exceeds the 3oz limit for carry on, which applies to all international flights leaving from europe in my experience.

First off, you made the right choice going through LGW, it is night and day compared to LHR. LHR is a bazaar inside a mental hospital inside an airport. LGW a much calmer airport. That being said, they have more time at security to check you over. I have always found the security to be friendly. Even the giant Pakistani guy who does the pat down and feel up on men is polite. Plus there isn't that creepy feeling of a US pat down.

In general, security at most European airports is more customer oriented (other than France). They go through the motions but do their job seriously. I have never taken liquids out of my carry on there, or even bothered with the baggie.

Of course, your experience may vary due to day, time, phase of the moon, or the outcome of a recent football match.

Now on to the important part, bringing home the whisky! I always bring back a bottle or two of a local specialty from abroad. Being from Texas, I pack them inside a couple socks and then put them inside my boots, in my checked bag. I make sure they are padded well with clothing. A big ziplock bag never hurts either, just in case. So far, I've never had a problem. (Knock on wood). If you are planning on a duty free whisky purchase, then it will be given to you on board the plane. This isn't a problem if you can go straight from customs to the outside world. If you have to re-check your bag, then yes, it has to go into your checked baggage or end up in the TSA party supply.

From the MCO website:

After clearing Immigration and Customs:
Airside 4 (Gates 60-99): You may either keep your checked bags with you and take the escalator directly up to the AGT station, or place your checked baggage on the baggage belt for transfer to the Main Terminal.
Airside 1 (Gates 1-29): Place your checked baggage on the baggage belt for transfer to the Main Terminal then proceed up the escalator, through the security checkpoint, then walk over to the AGT (train) station.

If your flight normally goes into a gate with direct access to the outside, it doesn't mean that for some reason it may end up at one that doesn't. So it is best to plan in advance on putting the bottle in your checked bag at some point. If you arrive at a gate that requires you to re-check your bag, make sure the bottle is well padded for its' short ride to baggage claim.

Oh how I miss the days of two big bottles of Russian carburetor cleaner in my carry on.

Good trip and Cheers!

Arriving in UK at Gatwick should be far less daunting and hectic than Heathrow, although there will inevitably be some queues and delay for immigration and customs, which you will need to complete before connecting to domestic flight to Edinburgh. There should be no cause for any concern, so enjoy the flight and your holiday.

Going through LGW is probably a good choice. It's quite a lot more civilized than LHR. I'm assuming you're travelling and connecting though on a single ticket. If that's the case, you bags will be checked through to EDI and you won't see them in LGW. You will go through immigration at LGW however and as a US citizen you end up in the longer slower-moving lines. You willl also go through a security check. I haven't personally ever connected through LGW and I would expect there will be relatively few people doing so. I believe most LGW traffic is point-to-point, unlike LHR, so that's another good reason for your routing.
If you're buying your whiskey on the street in Scotland, you won't be able to take it as carry-on. Just wrap it well in the checked bags. If you're buying in duty-free, make sure they seal the bag and leave the receipt visible, which will allow the bag through flight connections.
I have no idea what happens at MCO.

Good Info
 

Thanks everyone this is all good info.

One more question.
My wife asked me if we needed a "visa" to visit Scotland?As far as I knew all we needed was a US Passport.

Do we or dont we need a "visa"?

We're only going to be there for 7 days if that makes a difference.


Thanks again

Scotland, as England, is part of the United Kingdom; no visa (small v) necessary for U.S. passport holders. Visa/MasterCard (large V) will come in handy, although if you travel out into the countryside you will find some businesses that take only cash.

Have a wonderful time.

Thanks YCTTSFM,I figured as much.Ive read so much different stuff on passports and visas it just gets confusing.
Yes we are bringing the large V and MC with us
We hope to have a good time.Thanks again.

Where did you get this idea? I shop at European duty free before boarding flights leaving Europe all the time.

Since the OP is not changing planes in the USA on his way to his final destination, then buying at duty free in EDI or LGW should be no problem.

However, if he buys stuff elsewhere in Scotland, and brings it with him to the airport, it's going to need to be checked.